Only two new candidates have filed to run for one of the six open seats on the Natrona County school board as of Friday.

Natrona County residents interested in running have until Monday, Aug. 25, to file an application with the county clerk.

The new candidates are Gary Richards and Doug Tunison. Richards is running for a two-year term and Tunison is running for a two-year term.

Richards is an engineering manager. Tunison works at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center.

Current trustees Josh Carnahan, Steven Degenfelder and Elizabeth Horsch have all filed to run for re-election.

Joe Parrish with the Committee to Encourage People to Run for the School Board said several people have come to the group and expressed interest in running.

"What we're doing is making it as easy as possible for them to get filed, to get current on the issues, be prepared to be a good trustee," Parrish said.

The committee is visiting with the League of Women Voters about hosting a candidate forum before the election. Members also developed an issues survey for candidates.

But most of the committee is encouraging people to get involved in the race.

"We're just trying to get people interested," Parrish said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.

Want to be a trustee?

Applications to run for a seat on the Natrona County school board are available at the County Clerk's office, located at 200 N. Center Street. The last day to file is Aug. 25.

Interested community members can also get in touch with Joe Parrish, chairman of the Committee to Encourage People to Run for the School Board at (307) 797-1213 or at joeparrish@wyoming.com